David Rossi was tired. Worn out. Fatigued. Depleted. Just plain exhausted. He and the rest of the BAU superheroes that he worked with had been here in Utah for the past week looking for another psychopathic murderer. They had gotten the break they needed late last night and caught the simple looking man just as he was attempting to take another life. "Lucky break," David thought, "that Garcia had found that storage unit rental on the guy's credit card record, or we might still be looking. Seems like there are beginning to be more of them than there are of us," David mused as he drove the FBI issued black SUV down a back road into a neighboring town. He was on his way to do an exit interview with the owner of the rental company while the others wrapped up at the sheriff's station so they could be well on their way home before midnight. And, not a moment too soon. He didn't think he could handle another night in that uncomfortable hotel room.

The only light in his otherwise dim current assignment was the occupant of the seat next to him. Agent Jennifer Jureau had been asked to tag along with Rossi. More like ordered by Hotchner, but no sense in bringing that up again. The young blonde had had to deal with more than her fair share of bullying this week. The press during this case was brutal, blaming the FBI for taking so long to come to the small town as well as taking so long to catch the guy. The fact that only an hour had passed from the time that JJ had gotten the call from the frantic sheriff to when the whole team, including Garcia, was in the jet with their go-bags would have made no difference to the vultures with microphones on the steps of town hall. Nor the fact that it took three days after their jet landed to get all of the evidence that had been compiled over the past several months that the guy had been killing. Finally, all of the information was received and they were able to catch the guy within 48 hours. Not that JJ would have mentioned that. No. She was professional to the last. Classy, too. She wouldn't have put the blame on the sheriff, or the mayor of the small town, even if that's where it needed to be. Stupid wind bag thought he could bury this murderous spree until after the election. If Rossi had his way, the guy's endorsement commercial would have been lit up with autopsy and crime scene photos. But, no, that's not the way that JJ worked. Somehow, and Rossi will never know how, she handled every question and accusation thrown at her with grace and professionalism. She kept the lines of communication open day and night with the media, as well as the victim's families, until this guy was caught, which would explain the dark circles now forming under the slim agent's normally bright blue eyes. If possible, JJ had gotten less sleep than the rest of the team. That's why Hotchner had sent her on this interview, to give her a break from the madness that had dogged her heels for the past week. After a loud, albeit short, protest from JJ, the older agent was pulling out of the parking lot of the station with the media liaison in tow. Seems she had no energy for fire and venom, and her concession came quickly. So, it was no surprise when her head leaned on the passenger window about fifteen minutes into their drive to nowhere and she had fallen into a fitful sleep.

Rossi turned the heater in the SUV up a little bit higher as the sun was going down outside. The first signs of winter were appearing on the snow capped mountains in the distance. If not for the reason behind this little road trip, Rossi might have let his mind wander to the desires deep in the crevices of his weathered heart. Snow capped mountains, clear, star-lit sky, long, winding road in the middle of beautiful scenic country. And last but certainly not least, the pretty woman sleeping to his right. Rossi noticed JJ pulling inward and shivering in her seat. He reached around with his right hand while his left stayed securely on the wheel, and grabbed his suit jacket from the seat behind him. He awkwardly tried to give JJ some cover with the jacket one-handed, without waking her up. Mission not accomplished. JJ woke with a start as she felt the jacket being tossed on her lap. "Sorry I woke you." David said. "You looked a little cold so I was trying to cover you up. Guess I'll never make it as a one handed secret spy, huh?" JJ chuckled as she straightened in her chair, looking down at her hands in her lap with an embarrassed blush rising on her cheeks. "Guess not," she replied softly. "Sorry I fell asleep. Guess my get up and go got up and went the minute I quit moving."

"Don't worry about it," he replied. "You know, we've got at least another hour to drive before we get to this guy's place. You look like you could be blown away with a small wind. Why don't you lean back in your chair and try to get some more sleep? I promise I'll behave and keep my eyes on the road and my hands on the wheel."

JJ laughed. She glanced to her left and watched his profile as he watched the road. "No. I'm fine." she said as a shiver came across her body. She watched as Rossi wordlessly turned the heater up another notch. And, as he did, her internal heater went up as well. She wasn't sure why, but Rossi had had that effect on her since the day she met him in Hotchner's office after Gideon's hasty departure. Something about him spoke to the strong, independent woman, who also had a hidden desire to just let it go and to be taken care of, even if only for a day. She had a feeling she could be both with him. The hot-tempered Italian had proven it on more than one occasion as she watched him on the cases they worked together. He'd allowed her and Emily to do their jobs without question, even complimenting her on the clean shot in the Baylor case. "I'm impressed." he had told her. It probably meant nothing to him, but to her, it had made her heart melt a little more that he had even noticed her. Then, when she saw how he had blamed himself for the death of young Zoe, and how he had tried to anonymously help her mother with those heart-wrenching responsibilities her heart had, again, melted a little bit more. And, with each case, with each day together, her heart had soon melted into an unrecognizable puddle. Only, no one knew. Or, at least she hoped they didn't know. How embarrassed would she be when someone found out that she had silently, over time, fallen madly in love with one David Rossi? What a fool they would think of her. She, a simple FBI liaison from a modest background in Pennsylvania who still calls her parents every Sunday to see how they are, falling for him, Supervisory Special Agent David Rossi, an older Italian, with a string of award winning novels and more money and experiences than she could ever claim. No. Jennifer Jureau may be simple, but she wasn't stupid. This was one piece of information that was on a need to know basis only. And, no one needed to know.

Rossi waited for JJ to respond to his request, but, after a couple of minutes didn't receive a reply. He took his eyes off the darkening road and looked to his right towards JJ. "What's going on in that head of yours, Jenn?" And those were the last words Jennifer heard before she felt herself, literally, being turned upside down.